The moon hung high in a hazy night sky.
Summer in this city was always quick and fleeting—blink, and autumn was already on its way.
The streets were nearly empty now, and the glow from the houses had faded. Aside from the pale streetlamps standing like sentinels by the roadside, casting slivers of light to guide the way, the whole road seemed to have fallen into a long, dreamless sleep.
Ji Yu wasn't sure what she was feeling.
Maybe it was because she'd already cried enough last night—throwing another tantrum now would just feel pretentious.
In the small garden in the middle of the neighborhood, flowers bathed in moonlight reflected back a pure, holy glow, so beautiful it made her heart ache. It was only nine o'clock, yet no one seemed interested in coming out to see the post-rain scenery. Looking toward her darkened home, she laid a few flyers on a bench in the garden, sat down, and hummed softly to herself.
Fragrance in the air… she recalled a line she'd once read: The colder the wind, the rarer the bloom. She'd seen these flowers countless times, yet tonight they seemed different—strangely romantic.
In the distance, warmth from the day was still rising from the ground, turning into a faint mist. Puddles on the roadside mirrored the bright moon above. Ji Yu swung her legs from the bench, waiting… waiting for two familiar shadows to emerge from the far end of the path.
"Mom! Sis!"
Her voice pierced the soft veil of mist. The two women exchanged a glance, then turned toward the young girl standing up from the bench.
"And you are…?"
The woman in the black velvet dress adjusted her glasses and studied the lovely girl standing among the flowers. Ji Yu's heart pounded in her throat. She clutched the shopping bag in her hand and pressed it against her chest.
"Sis… it's me, Ji Yu."
Moonlight, flowers, three women, nearly twenty years of shared life.
"Is it… really you, Ji Yu?" asked the shorter shadow, stepping into the light. Her gentle face was full of surprise and doubt.
"Yeah… Mom, it's really me."
Stepping into the lamp's glow, they could see the resemblance in her face—and the tears streaming down her cheeks. Even a stranger could see the hurt in those eyes.
Ji Yu's older sister, Ji Yu, covered her mouth in disbelief. Their mother's heart twisted at the sight of her youngest, standing there crying without even trying to wipe her tears.
It was a clear, cool September night. The rain had left behind not just a bright moon, but a scattering of stars beyond it. In the quiet little garden, her sobbing finally gave way to the warmth of her family's embrace. Her mother stroked her hair, murmuring comfort Ji Yu didn't even catch, her head resting silently on her mother's shoulder. Her sister, usually cold-faced and guarded, softened like she had in their childhood, ruffling Ji Yu's hair with a hand.
Mist began to rise over the city, spreading with the night wind until Yuyang lay completely shrouded. But here, in this small patch of flowers, the fog didn't seem to reach. The only light came from the silver moon and the glittering galaxy behind it.
From their balconies, some residents paused at the sudden fog. Opening their windows, they looked out, and the confusion on their faces melted into awe at the sight of the star-filled sky.
And down below, in the middle of the mist, three women held each other. Phones and cameras clicked quietly from above, capturing the scene.
"Only shame," someone upstairs murmured, "that it's not a couple… but this is good too."
Even the flowers wore a faint halo of mist, dewdrops trembling on every petal like tiny stars.
"All right, it's cold out. Let's head home," Ji Yu's sister urged gently, smiling until Ji Yu's tears finally turned into a smile of her own.
When her mother finally pulled her away from the hug, she glanced down at Ji Yu—at the clearly feminine curves of her face, chest, waist, and hips.
Ji Yu had been overwhelmed at first, but when she realized they were both openly studying her body… and the paper bag of lingerie in her hand… she flushed scarlet, looking down and knotting her fingers together.
"I… I don't know why I turned into a girl. It just… happened yesterday…" Her voice trembled, fragile as glass.
Her sister stepped closer and took her hand. Ji Yu flinched at the cold touch, but didn't pull away.
"I don't know what to do…"
Her sister thought for a moment, then gently wiped the tears from her cheeks with a tissue from her bag. The motions were careful, almost tender, even if her face had already returned to its usual cool mask.
Ji Yu, still sniffling, couldn't help but smile at the rare gentleness. Maybe she felt ridiculous, switching between tears and smiles, but no matter how she tried, she couldn't force the tears back.
Her sister and mother exchanged helpless looks, shook their heads, and continued to dab away the last traces of tears.
"Let's go home."
"Mm."
Rain-washed night market outside the campus. Mo Yachen stopped behind a woman surrounded by empty beer cans, eyeing the scarlet-hot broth in her hotpot with mild exasperation.
Tap, tap—he rapped a pair of chopsticks against an empty can.
"Done eating? Then get moving." His tone was sharp, laced with irritation.
"Well, if it isn't my little brother. Took you long enough. I've been drinking here for ages," Mo Xunhan drawled.
She looked even lazier than usual, alcohol dulling her already languid posture. A tear slipped from the corner of her eye, dampening her sleeve.
A group of boys at the next table had been eyeing her beauty, about to make their move—until Mo Yachen stepped in. The president of Yuyang University's student council, heir to the internationally renowned Hanatori Music—everyone in the city knew who he was. They also knew better than to mess with the woman in front of him.
He was long used to her sloppy ways, and didn't bother with courtesy. Frowning, he grabbed her by the ends of her hair, ignoring the faint scent of soap.
"Finished your film and decided to come bother me, huh, Director Mo?"
Their eyes met, and she chuckled.
"Ahhh… everyone's got their little secrets, their things they'd never say aloud. Little brother, I'll give you this—you've got the looks and charm to check all the boxes for a lot of women. But with that rough attitude, you'll never win the one you've been pining for~."